<div class="ExternalClassF311D8DB26B041319FDCC2F4C340420B"><p>​As many families and staff continue recovery efforts in our neighborhoods, homes and community, we are also slowly but surely getting back on track with the business of teaching and learning across Katy ISD campuses. As you ​​know, our students lost two weeks of instructional time as a result of Tropical Storm Harvey. However, because the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will be waiving up to 10 instructional days, there will be no need to extend the 2017-18 instructional calendar, or to modify the Thanksgiving, Christmas/winter, and spring breaks.​</p><p>Our Curriculum Department has worked diligently over the past few weeks to realign and restructure the curriculum unit plans to ensure that all state standards will be taught this school year. As such, there will be no gaps in the taught and tested curriculum. </p><p>Also, to ensure that our students receive the full benefits of the Katy ISD learning experience, we have identified means to regain lost instructional time to deliver additional support to students. This includes providing enrichment resources for our families, supplementary study opportunities for Advanced Placement (AP) students, and extending four early release days to full days of instruction. </p><p><u>Enrichment Resources for Families:<br></u>Online instructional enrichment activities developed by our Curriculum Department are available for parents or guardians to work with their child(ren) at home. These enhanced learning activities are ungraded and optional, and are available on the <a href="/dept/ci/Pages/Enrichment.aspx">Katy ISD Curriculum & Instruction website​</a>. Each core subject area will be covered for the remainder of the school year. These subjects include language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. ​</p><p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Support for Advanced Placement (AP) Students:<br></span>Additional study opportunities will also be offered to students preparing for the May 2018 AP exams. Review sessions and resources are currently being developed and will be shared with students, and published on the website later this Fall.</p><p><u>Extending Four Early Release Days:<br></u>The 2017-2018 instructional calendar included six "early release" days that are typically designated for professional development, teacher preparation, and parent conferences. Four of the previously designated early release days (Oct. 9, 20, Feb 16, April 13) will be extended to full instructional days. This is designed to allow students more time in the classroom, as well as to serve the needs of so many of our families who are displaced by Harvey and depending, now more than ever, on the daily routine of school to bring a sense of normalcy to their child(ren)'s lives. We understand that October 9 and 20 had been set aside for parent/teacher conferences at many campuses. However, in lieu of the in-person conferences, parents are encouraged to communicate with teachers by email and/or phone. Parents should also continue to monitor their student's progress on the <a href="/pages/home-access-center.aspx">Home Access Center</a>. Friday, December 15 and Thursday, May 24 will remain "early release" days since final exams are given on those dates.</p><p>Thank you for your understanding as we move forward with these post-Harvey initiatives to recapture lost instructional time and to provide additional support to our students and families. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your school. </p></div>

<div class="ExternalClassF95BC14D33FC4436B88648BFAB6D2117"><p></p><p style="text-align:justify;">​After almost two weeks of being housed at Paetow High School, Bear Creek Elementary (BCE) students and staff will now be headed back to their home campus on Monday, September 25.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The neighborhood lift pumps and a water treatment plant which were compromised by Harvey have now been repaired and the local service provider has lifted water restrictions to the area, making it safe for students to return to their home campus. School start time will revert back to normal hours of operations. Likewise, the transportation schedule will also return to its regular pick-up/drop-off times and locations. </p><p>Within the Katy ISD boundaries, the Bear Creek community was one of the hardest hit neighborhoods by Tropical Storm Harvey. "The reopening of the school is a sign of progress and recovery as we help students and families return to their normal routines and daily school activities," said district spokesperson Maria DiPetta.​</p></div>

<div class="ExternalClass63D527D04ADA4A0B8A61E4A982D684F7"><p><span style="text-align:justify;">Parents of kindergarten students in Katy ISD may refer their children for Challenge (Gifted & Talented) screening between September 18 and October 2.</span><span style="text-align:justify;"> </span><span style="text-align:justify;">Parents will receive information in their child's take-home packet explaining how to refer them beginning the week of September 11.</span><span style="text-align:justify;"> </span><br></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">The referral forms and parent checklist are due on October 3</span>. The State of Texas defines a gifted and talented student as a child or youth who performs or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Kindergarten service will begin by March 1, 2018. The kindergarten program emphasizes the development of critical and creative thinking skills. Students attend for 60 minutes each week in the Challenge classroom. Students identified in the kindergarten level move into the elementary pullout program in first grade. If you have questions, please contact the counselor at the home campus or the campus Challenge teacher. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">​Parents of students who are referred and screened will receive placement notification during the last week of February. Informational presentations and FAQ d​ocuments (English and Spanish) will be available on the <a href="/dept/GT/Pages/Elementary%20GT%20Challenge%20Program.aspx">Katy ISD GT and Advanced Academics web page</a>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p></div>

<div class="ExternalClass079105E0146C4A0A95C308F2FA402736"><p><span style="text-align:justify;">Katy ISD fifth graders who are not</span><strong style="text-align:justify;"> </strong><span style="text-align:justify;">currently identified as part of the Elementary Challenge Program have the opportunity to be screened for the Gifted and Talented Program, which begins during the student's sixth grade year.</span><span style="text-align:justify;"> </span><span style="text-align:justify;">Secondary gifted program options are available in the following subjects:</span><span style="text-align:justify;"> </span><span style="text-align:justify;">English, Reading, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies.</span><span style="text-align:justify;"> </span><span style="text-align:justify;">Students can be screened in any or all of these content areas.</span><br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">To refer a child for screening, a Secondary Parent Checklist must be completed and returned to the student's elementary campus by September 21, 2017. Checklists may be requested on campus or accessed via the <a href="/dept/GT/Pages/Elementary%20GT%20Challenge%20Program.aspx">Katy ISD GT and Advanced Academics web page</a>.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Testing will take place at your child's campus in October and November. Placement decisions will be notified via mail. </p><p>​</p></div>

<div class="ExternalClass1DBAE78160D84B2E93AD562C9579C31F"><p style="text-align:center;">​<img src="/PublishingImages/Lists/latestnews/AllItems/Ed_Found_Harvey_Cover_Photo.png" alt="Ed_Found_Harvey_Cover_Photo.png" style="margin:5px;width:603px;height:226px;vertical-align:middle;" />​<br><em style="font-family:calibri, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><br>​Fundraiser
for Katy ISD Families and Staff impacted by Hurricane Harvey</em><br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><em></em></p><p>In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, 15,007 students and 2,600 employees of Katy ISD are recovering from direct impact of the storm. Despite the destruction, the Katy community has proven to be "Katy Strong" in providing support to those in need. In keeping with that theme, the Katy ISD Education Foundation is launching an initiative that will provide support for Katy ISD families and staff adversely impacted by flooding in their homes as a result of Hurricane Harvey. The Foundation will collect donations from the community, while Katy ISD campuses will identify students and staff in need of support. This initiative was set in motion by the Foundation Board of Directors in response to numerous requests from our community.<br></p><p>"The Katy ISD Education Foundation has an unprecedented opportunity to bolster our community during this devastating time," says Tara Wilson, Katy ISD Education Foundation Board President. "With a tremendous amount of work ahead of us, this small but mighty initiative will provide the necessary support to Katy ISD staff and families that need to not only rebuild homes, but rebuild lives." Any donation amount is welcome and donors will receive a tax receipt when the gift is processed. </p><p>With sixteen campuses affected by floodwaters, including Creech Elementary re-locating students for the remainder of the year, Katy ISD faces a significant road to recovery. "While the district is in a strong position to support facility recovery, and will do so, we are grateful for our community's support for the thousands of Katy ISD staff members and their families whose lives have been profoundly impacted by Hurricane Harvey," says Dr. Lance Hindt, Katy ISD Superintendent. "We have already seen incredible acts of compassion all over Katy from hundreds of volunteers serving four thousand evacuees in three Katy ISD schools used as shelters to our staff working tirelessly to return facilities to working order."</p><p>The Education Foundation's mission is to provide extraordinary classroom experiences to students and teachers in our district. In this case, the extraordinary will, in fact, be the ordinary, everyday items that will return home-lives to normalcy. To give, visit <a href="http://tinyurl.com/pledgecentskatyisdfamilies">http://tinyurl.com/pledgecentskatyisdfamilies</a></p></div>

<div class="ExternalClass6B7A9D208BD34076AA5454F07228679E"><p>​Due to Tropical Storm Harvey's impact on our district and community, the Fall 2017 Katy ISD Community Education course schedule has been modified. Most courses, with the exception of the "Becoming a Real Estate Entrepreneur" class and "Basics of Ballroom Dancing: Beginner", have been postponed to the week of September 18. As you may be aware, those courses were originally scheduled to begin next week. </p><p>An updated course catalog which includes information about modified course schedules and cancelled courses can be found on the Katy ISD website. Please visit the <a href="/dept/ce/Pages/default.aspx">Katy ISD Community Education webpage</a> for the most recent information, or call 281-396-6365. </p><p>Thank you for your patience and understanding as Katy ISD continues recovery efforts throughout our school community.</p><p>Katy ISD</p></div>

Bear Creek Elementary Students and Staff will be Relocated to Paetow High

2017-09-07T22:02:02Z

<div class="ExternalClassB0A118B488644D97AE1AEAD2FC0B51D1"><p>Neighborhoods surrounding Bear Creek Elementary suffered severe flooding last week. While the school was left intact, the local service provider has placed restrictions on water usage, as nearby lift pumps, along with the waste water treatment plant were compromised by the storm.<br></p><p>These restrictions will limit the school's access to water and waste treatment. As such, Bear Creek Elementary students and staff will be transferred to Paetow High School, located at 23111 Stockdick School Rd.,<em> </em>Katy, TX, for the reopening of schools on September 11. Paetow is Katy ISD's newest high school which opened its doors this fall to two grade levels - freshman and sophomore classes. The elementary students will be housed in the east tower of the campus, currently unoccupied by secondary students.</p><p>Transportation for all Bear Creek Elementary zoned students will be provided, should they need it. Information regarding routes, pick up and drop off times/locations will be emailed to parents before Monday. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">In the meantime, operations crews have completed their mechanical and electrical assessments, which met all standards. Since there was no flood water intrusion within the building, Bear Creek students and staff will be returning to a safe and secure learning environment once restrictions are removed by the local service provider.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"Students and staff are our highest priority during this recovery process," said Superintendent Lance Hindt. "Though the relocation for Bear Creek students is temporary, multiple Katy ISD departments are working vigorously to make this a smooth transition for everyone, both now and when students and staff are able to return to their school." </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Katy ISD closed the district on August 25 in anticipation of Hurricane Harvey. Following the storm, the District announced that 16 campuses had been impacted by flooding in surrounding neighborhoods. One campus, Creech Elementary took on several feet of water and arrangements have since been made for students and staff to be relocated to the University of Houston Cinco Ranch campus while repairs are being made at the school. Bear Creek Elementary will be the second school to relocate as a result of Tropical Storm Harvey. The remaining 14 schools have cleared building assessments and will reopen in their home locations this Monday.</p><p>Schools reopen across Katy ISD on September 11.</p></div>

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